How to check that a payment intermediary is reliable and properly registered

Why the question of reliability arises

Paying an overseas supplier via an intermediary means entrusting them with the smooth execution of a payment, sometimes amounting to tens of thousands of euros. This approach is legitimate: many SMEs do so to reduce their fees and benefit from better support (see what defaulting to your bank really costs). However, the sector also attracts unauthorised operators and fraudsters, who sometimes mimic the name and website of genuinely registered companies. The ACPR and the AMF regularly warn the public against these practices.

The good news: official registers are public and free of charge. Five checks are all it takes to know who you are dealing with.

Check #1: identify the operator's exact status

The words “authorised” or “certified” are often misused. In France, several statuses coexist, each with different rules:

• Payment institution or electronic money institution: authorised by the ACPR (or by the authority of another European Union country, then passported to operate in France). They are the ones who receive and transfer the funds.

• Payment services provider agent: acts on behalf of an authorised institution, which has registered them with the ACPR.

• Banking operations and payment services intermediary (IOBSP): registered on the ORIAS register. They do not hold an authorisation: they are registered, and the ACPR merely supervises their activity. They connect and support the client, but do not hold their funds: payments are executed by a payment institution.

The first question to ask: “What is your exact status, and under what number are you registered?” A reputable operator will answer immediately and display this information on their website and documents.

Check #2: check the number on the right register

For an intermediary, the reference register is the ORIAS register. The check takes just a few minutes:

• ORIAS for intermediaries: search by name, SIREN, or ORIAS number, and check that the registration is active under the IOBSP category.

• REGAFI, maintained by the ACPR, covers another category of operators: payment and electronic money institutions, which hold funds. An intermediary registered with ORIAS does not appear there, and that is completely normal.

Do not stop at the name. Compare the SIREN, address, and website with the Kbis extract and the contact details of your interlocutor. Impersonation scams often use the name of a real company with a different website, phone number, or email address.

Check #3: consult the blacklists

The ACPR and the AMF publish lists of websites and entities offering financial services without authorisation. They are accessible on Assurance Banque Épargne Info Service. Being listed on these is enough to rule out the operator.

Certain warning signs should also raise flags, even without an entry on a list: rates presented as unbeatable without any analysis of your transaction flows, pressure to decide quickly, or a request for a transfer to an account unrelated to the company.

Check #4: know where your funds transit

This is the most important question: between the moment you send the money and the moment your supplier receives it, who holds it?

A payment institution is subject to an obligation to protect its clients' funds: they are held in segregated accounts, separate from its own funds and protected in the event of insolvency. If you use an intermediary, your transfer must never land in their current account, but in a segregated account dedicated to client funds.

Therefore, ask how your funds are protected: what type of account they transit through, and under what regulatory framework. A reputable operator will answer clearly and in writing. An IBAN in the name of an individual or an unrelated company is an immediate stop signal.

Check #5: the contract, pricing, and compliance

A reliable operator will provide you with a written contract specifying their status and the framework in which your payments are executed, a transparent pricing schedule (fees and FX markup), and a complaints procedure.

They will also ask you for supporting documents before any payment: Kbis extract, proof of identity of the directors, and sometimes the source of funds or supplier invoices. These checks, known as KYC and KYB, are a legal anti-money laundering requirement. An operator that bypasses them is not simpler: they are non-compliant.

The 5 questions to ask before signing

1. What is your exact regulatory status and registration number?

2. Does this number appear on the official register with the same contact details?

3. Is the operator absent from the ACPR and AMF blacklists?

4. Do your funds transit through segregated accounts, protected in the event of insolvency?

5. Are the contract, pricing, and KYC procedure formalised in writing?

How OSolto meets these criteria

OSolto is an intermediary registered with ORIAS under number 26004337, verifiable in seconds on orias.fr. OSolto is not a payment institution and never holds your funds: they transit through segregated accounts with regulated payment institutions, subject to the safeguarding obligations set out by European regulations.

Each client completes a full KYC/KYB procedure before their first transaction and has a dedicated point of contact for their international payments and foreign exchange risk management. To understand what you are currently paying, read our article on the real cost of an international transfer.

Want to verify our status and discuss your payment flows? Speak to an OSolto expert, with no obligation: info@osolto.com.

FAQ

What is the difference between a payment institution and an intermediary registered with ORIAS?

A payment institution executes transactions and holds client funds in segregated accounts. An intermediary supports the client without ever holding their funds: they do not hold an authorisation, they are registered with ORIAS, and the ACPR oversees their activity.

Why does an intermediary not appear on REGAFI?

Because REGAFI lists institutions that hold client funds: banks, payment institutions, and electronic money institutions. An intermediary never holds your funds: their register is ORIAS. That is therefore where their registration must be checked.

What should I do if I have doubts about an operator?

Do not make any transfers. Check the registers, consult the blacklists, and, if doubt persists, contact Assurance Banque Épargne Info Service, the joint information service of the ACPR, the AMF, and the Banque de France.